Finding, drilling and producing oil are uncertain ventures at best, and many people in the business credit their success to inspiration and intuition. For Midland, Texas, oil producer Vince Hatfield, the same can be said for his singing career.
Hatfield, owner of Sharp Image Energy Inc. in the Permian Basin, was inspired to write a new song while driving from his home in Big Spring to Midland. His timing couldn't have been better.
"In February 2000, I had just dropped my kids off at school when I heard on the radio that if the election were held that day, George Bush and Al Gore would be tied," he said. "I felt strongly that George Bush would be the best president for this country because of his views on family, morality and his leadership, so I started thinking about that. I had the lyrics in my head by the time I reached my office in Midland, and 'George Bush for our USA' was the result."
This timely single is part of Hatfield's new CD titled Please Come to Boston. Hatfield is a balladeer whose voice is reminiscent of country and western star Bobby Goldsboro. "I like pretty songs," Hatfield said. "This is a fun part of my life and the way I relax from the oil business. It's my way of escape."
Hatfield, along with his two young sons, Zachary and Joshua, performed "George Bush for our USA" at the newly elected president's going-away party in Midland earlier this year. "Longtime Bush friend Joe O'Neill was the organizer of the event and asked me to sing the song," Hatfield said. "I also sent a copy of the single to Don Evans, Bush's chief of staff, and received a nice note in return. I had a lot of Midland folks come up to me after the performance and tell me, 'I didn't know you could do that.'"
The new CD is not Hatfield's first. In 1990 he recorded Little Things, which peaked at No. 49 on the Cashbox chart, and his music video for "Everywhere I Turn There's Your Memory" was featured on The Nashville Network. Hatfield credits Nashville veteran musician Charlie McCoy and Austin businessman Ed Spacek as two of the reasons his independently produced albums have had success.
"Ed mailed out CDs to 575 radio stations throughout the country last October. After the election, I looked at the list, and 13 of those stations were in Florida," Hatfield said. "I don't know what kind of air time I had, but I like to think the song had an effect."
Hatfield's song has been heard on the nationally syndicated Rush Limbaugh show and throughout Texas. "One of my former employees happened to be down in Sheffield and saw one of my CDs sitting on a desk. When he asked the fella whether he knew me or not, the man said, 'Nah, but this ole boy's pretty good.'"
"Good" also can apply to Hatfield's success in the oil business. Sharp Image Energy was one of the first firms in the Permian Basin to use 3-D seismic technology. Canyon reef structures are their focus, with Horseshoe Atoll being their main objective. Additionally, Hatfield has two drill rigs in operation.
"Last year, we drilled 27 wells and had 21 producers. This year, along with our partners, we'll drill 30 wells and hope for a 75% success ratio," he said. "We have enough in-house 3-D projects to keep the two rigs running continuously. There's plenty of projects to do and no end in sight."
The same can be said about Hatfield's new CD. "It's harder to get on the charts now than it was during the '80s. Then, Billboard listed the top 100 songs, but today it only goes to 60, and for an independent single like mine, it's tough." However, with a new nationwide distribution plan in effect, "George Bush for our USA" soon will be heard across the country.
Hatfield's Web site, www.vincehatfield.com, offers song clips and ordering information.